Hose nozzle



July 16, y1940.

P. E. REHSE HOSE NOZZLE- Filed A p`ri1 8, ,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l July16, 1940.

P. E. REHsE HOSE NOZZLE Filed April 8, 1938 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented`July 16,1940

UNITED STATES 'PATENT ori-Ica mais (Granted under the m of Maren s;rasa, n amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. '157) The invention describedherein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to hose nozzles, and particularly to nozzles foruse with-nre fightingequipment employing water, foam, and othermaterials, singly or in combination. v

It is very desirable, in the fighting of ce'rtain kinds of fires,especially those in connection with aircraft, that the flre fightingequipment be of such a nature as to permit a man to enter into the lirefor such purposes as the saving of lives, shutting olf motors andfuelvalves, or salvaging 15. valuable materials. This can beaccomplished by forming the discharge stream in the shape of a cone ofsufficient diameter at its base or maximum operating distance portion toenvelop a man, and of sufficient wall thickness to protect him as a.

shield against the flames and lire gases. lThis hollow cone-shapedstream is formed bythe use of a conical-shaped core in the center of thedischargevportion of the nozzle, thereby providingv a conical-channeloriiice. -Since the distance of the projection of the dischargestreamwill depend on the factors of pressure and degree of the angle ofdiversion of the opening, it is desirable that the angle of divergencebekept as small as possible, consistent with the operating pressure, andof no greater size than suillcient to form a.

cone with diameter at the projected operating distance sufficient toinclose a man.

Modern re ghting methods, using the principle of smothering fire withfoam forming materials, introduce new problems in the proper spraying ofsuch foamformlng materials, diierent from the problems in the sprayingof water alone. Foam is usually formed by mixing vwith water, solidsproducing carbon dioxide, and some solid material or materials toincrease the surface tension, thereby forming bubbles of carbon dioxidesurrounded by a thin membrane of water solution.

In the case of nres of liquid, such as gasoline and oils, the re area isusually a nat layer, and

it is then desired that the foam should have a vmaximum coverage perunit of material. This maximum coverage for a given quantity of fluid lis to be achieved by the use Aof bubbles of the smallest possiblestructure. due to the well known fact that the ratio of surface area tovolume increases as the volume is'reduced. Another oblective in the caseof said liquid lires is that the 'foam should have a-free owin'gcharacteristic, whichv is likewise .promoted by the smaller size nbubbles since the flow ycharacteristic is dependent upon the wetness ofthe foam, and the-proportion of water to carbon dioxide is'greater insmall size bubbles than in larger size bubbles.

In the case of burning structures, it is desired that the foam be of asdry a nature as possible to s enable the foam to cling to the burningsurface, and thereby build an accumulation of volume suflicient to coverthe burning surface, and suiilciently dry that it will not now out.

The bubblev size is controlled by the oriiice width 10 of thehosenozzle. There is a break down in the bubble structure of the bubblesformed from carbon dioxide and solid materials-used to produce highsurface tension when the stream is being discharged through a. nozzleorifice area less than l5 the cross section area of the foam deliveryline. The foam which has been reduced in volume by passing through arestricted orifice composes a.i

greater number of bubbles per unit volume than the foam which doesnotpass through such a re- 20 stricted orifice and, consequentlycontainsA a higher ratio of liquid to gas. In other words, the volume ofliquid to gas is increased and foam becomes wetter as the size of thenozzle orice is decreased and, conversely, the volume of. gas 25 toliquid is increased as thenozzle orice area approaches the crosssectional area of the foam delivery line. Q Y Y There is the furtherproblem, in the discharging of foam forming materials, to obtain for all30 conditions of suitable bubble structure a maximum projection ofdischarge. Since foam is of much lighter nature than water, there is agreater tendency for the bubble structure. to dissociate than in thecase of a stream of water. It is also well known that the maximumefficiency. in obtaining distance for the projection of the dischargeconsistent with a given pressure is to be obtained when the dischargestream is compact and of a solid nature beinglaminar in the case of theconical stream, and when all eddy or vortex effects produced in thestream prior to its dis- 'dry foam, and of suflicient length toeliminate the said eddy effects. This problem is further complicated bythe need and utility o i using the Adischarging aportion of the fluidmaterial same nozzle for discharging foam, to discharge water alone.

In addition to the length requirements, the effective area ofthe conicalchannel must4 be maintained substantially uniform throughout its length,or of progressively decreasing cross sec tion from the inner to theouter end thereof. If the cross section area at the outer end is greaterthan at some interior point, the flow( is restricted at the point ofsmallest cross section, andthe maximum effectiveness of the streamcontrolling channel for the remainder of the distance is lost.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a re lhose nozzlefor the discharge of foam material or water that will form a conicaldischarge stream of predetermined diameter and laminar character for alloperative orifice adjustments and of maximum discharge projection fornormal operating pressures. In accordance with my invention I haveprovided a nozzle in which the resistance to the flow of fluidtherethrough is reduced to a minimum by gradually changing the directionof ow through the nozzle by a predetermined, minimum angle, and bycontinuing the flow through, and confining it in, a conical channel ofsufficient length to maintain the stream in a desired directed path andto reduce the turbulence created by the change in direction of flow to aminimum, thereby obtaining a flow of laminar quality for the maximumrange of operation, consistent with a given pressure.

It is a further object of my invention to provide, in a nozzle of theabove type, means for through the center of the nozzle and within theconical shaped outer stream for the purpose of spraying on a manenclosed in the conical shield a stream of cooling liquid.

- Another object of my invention is to provide, in a nozzle of the abovetype, means for discharging a second uid material through the center ofsaid nozzle and within the conical shaped outer stream for the samepurpose as provided in the previous object, or for the purpose ofdischarging into the conical shield carbon dioxide, dew gas, or carbontetrachloride. or other re repellent agents which will more completelyprotect the man within the shield from the flames.

Another object of my invention is to provide,`

in a nozzle of the character described, means for alternately selectingand controlling the discharge of either a portion of the main uid beingdischarged therethrough, or a second uid material for discharge throughthe center .of said nozzle and within the conical stream form.

Still another 'object of my invention is to provide, in a nozzle of thecharacter described, means for automatically closing the orifice whenthe nozzle isnot in use in order to exclude vermin, mud wasps, or thelike, from taking possession of the channel so provided when theapparatus is not in use. This feature is particularly 'useful inconnection with automatically controlled 1 nre extinguishing systems. l

Fig. 3 is a vertical'section of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of still another embodiment of myinvention, showing a dotted line for full' open position of the core;and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines Now referring to thedrawings in detail, Fig. l shows a hose nozzle unit comprising a mainbody portion lI0, a flared or conical shaped discharge portion I2, aportion I4 for making connectionl with the hose, and a portion I5 soconstructed and arranged as to form a housing concentric with thedischarge portion for mounting therein an axially adjustable shaft I8extending from the discharge portion of the nozzle and proportion 30 soconstructed as to provide with the discharge portion I2 a channelprogressively decreasing in width from the inner to the outer end ofsaid portion, and a further portion 32 with outer peripheral surfacesubstantially parallel to the interior `surface of the .dischargeportion, thereby imparting a conical shape and laminar character to thestream discharged therethrough. In order to give further directiveeffect to the stream. after it leaves the outlet of the channel, thedischarge portion I2 of the nozzle projects beyond the outer end of thecore. While assembling the nozzle, after the arrangement of the shaftwithin the nozzle and before attaching the adjustment wheel 20, theshaft is secured in the nozzle and sealed against leakage of water bymeans of a packing 34 and packing nut 36.

The nozzle is illustrated with the core near its maximum effectiveopened position, at which point the cross sectional area' at the mostinterior point of the portion 32 is approximately equal to the crosssectional area of the main body portion. Adjustment of the orifice fromthe elfective maximum opened position to a closed posif' tion isobtained by rotation of the adjustmentl wheel, causing axial progressionof the shaft in the helically threaded housing. It is to be fur, thernoted that. when the nozzle is in either the maximumeflective open, orclosed, position, the

annular, stream directing channel is of. sufcent length to provide alaminar ow of the fluid discharged. therethrough in a single directedpath substantially corresponding to a maximum cone .projection for thedesired field of inclosure; that is, of diameter suflicient to envelop aman. Good results have been obtained throughout auseful range ofadjustment by making the length of the shorter wall approximately twicethe width of the 1 opening at the maximum effective open adjustment. Iam aware that nozzles of the centrally disposed core type are familiarin the art, but the opposing walls of the conical channel so providedare not in effective "opposition for a suflicient length for alladjustments; that is, the relation of length to width is not such aswill produce the desired results for all useful adjustments of reducingthe bubble structure, and provide as uiilcientlength to vreduce theresistance of flow due to the turbulence or eddy currents caused bydirection changes shaft in Fig. 1, but'engages in a correspondingl inpassing through the nozzle, and to direct the stream in a single pathfor all desirable adiustprovide a conical shield, with diameter slightlylarger than the height of a man, at the maxi- V mum operating'point-tconsistent with a given pressure, it is important that vthisangle should be kept as 'small as possible, asv a small angle willenable the attainment of greater4 distance than a large' angle for thesame pressure. It

. will be seen that, as the pressure is lowered, the

distancefof projection is shortened with a consequent reduction indiameter of the projected cone, and the angle of deviation would have tobe increased to maintain a cone of the specified diameter .at its baselportion. A s the angle is increased, however, the corresponding greaterchange in direction of the path of the stream being discharged willinduce greater turbulence of the fluid as it is discharged through thenozzle and orice, and therefore the annular space in the dischargeportion of the nozzle which directs the path of -the stream would haveto be lengthened in order to eliminate the greater turbulence produced.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of my invention in which the hose nozzleproper andv discharge portion are similar to that in Fig., 1, but theshaft .housing portionl has been modified to provide for the use of anaxially adjustable but non-rotatable tube 38 in lieu of the shaft inFig. 1. The tube is provided with a helical thread similar to thehelical thread f orm in the driving screw member 4I)v contained withinthe housing portion IIB. Non-rotatability is obtained by provision ofthe 4 groove 42 in the shaft housing vportion and the fixedy lug 44 onthe shaft adapted for engagement with said groove. `'I'he adjustmentwheel 48 is mounted on the shoulder 48 provided onthe said member 48 andrigidly secured to said member by a nut 58. In assembling the aboveappratus, ,before the attachment of the adjustment wheel, thel saidmember 48 is secured within the housing portion by means of the lock nut82 and is further protected against leakage by means of the'packing 54and packing nut 58. The posterior a channel of gradually decreasingwidth from its inner to its outer end. As shown in Fig. ,2, the core isa single conical section and in its maximum effective opened position,the cross sectional area of the channel at the outlet' end issubstantially equal to the effective cross sectional area of the nozzleproper, and of substantially uniform area throughout the length thereof,thereby providing said channel of ashape tomain` tain positiveconfinement and control throughout its length of 'the liquid beingdischarged therethrough, and of a sumcient length for all usefuladjustments to overcome the turbulence created by change of direction ofthe stream and to maintain the stream in a singly directed path througha useful range of adjustment. v'There is alsoeliminated one corner inthe interior surface o f the nozzle of Fig. 1, thereby reducing thetendency to create turbulence,

The embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shownin Fig. 2 except Vthat in lieu of the full' length tubular shaft 38, l Ihave used a shaft 88 provided with a tubular e end ofthe tube isinternally threaded t receive'a connection 58 for a second fluid, andthe 4for-- .ward end of the tube to which is mounted,- by a drivinglit,l the conical shaped core 88 rigidly secured by means of the nut 8i,is interioriy threadl ed to'receive a nozzle 64 Awith.fconverging orivlice for directingthe streanibeigdischarged nut,vand hose connection aretherethrough. Shaft assembly is accomplished by entering-:thetlireadedshaft', with core dismounted, from the posterior end of saidshaft housing, aligning lug 44 in the grooveL :,Ifheinternally threadedmember." maybe aced .in position before or after positioning the shaft.Next, the

. core is mounted', 'and the member 40 is secured j and in the housingby the'loclcingV nut, packing packing nut, as aforesaid; Adjustmentwheel. thereafter mounted in the order named.

The operating characteristics of this nozzle,

so far as the discharge of the main stream is c oncernedl are similar tothose of the nozzle in Fig.

1, but the core is so constructed that itsl outer peripheral surface 6|provides with vthe inner sur'- portion 64 vat theend located within themain bodyportion and extending into the shaft housing portion of thenozzle. A channel 68. has been provided to connect the main body portionof the vnozzle with an aperture 68 in the tubular shaft 10 areconstructedv with 'a two-way valve 14 which enables the alternate"selection'of either of the two uid sources for discharge through thecentral portion. The =aperture 88 in the. tubular 'shaft 63 is of alength sufficient to make contact with the connecting channel portion 18from the two-way valve for all effective adjustments of the orifice madeby extending `or retracting. the core 18, and is arranged s0 as to shutoiI contact with thel connecting channel when the shaft with coremounted thereon has been` retracted to close the main orifice.

Similarly to the tubular shaft'in Fig. 2, the shaft 83 is provided witha helical thread on the solid portion of the shaft engaging in acorresponding helically threaded member 80 contained within the housingportion I1. This member 88 is slightly different from the correspondingmember 48.in Fig. 2. Because of the solid construction of the shaft, themember 80 is provided at its posterior end with a turned down 86. Inassembling the above apparatus, before v attaihment ofl the controlwheel, the said .memberliilis secured `within the housing portion by J lof `the lock nut-52 and is further protected against-leakage by meansofthe packing 54 and packing nutV A58. Full assembly of theshaft isaccomplished inthe same manner as provided for the modification in Fig.2.*-

The core in this modification is similar to the core in Fig. 2 exceptthat it is longer and extends ing the core longer thanthe dischargeportion,

the core surface 'is made to give additional directive effect fromwithin to the stream after'it leaves the outlet of the channel.

'Ihe central nozzle *80 as shown in Fig. 3 is for use primarily withcarbon dioxide gas.

Since carbon dioxide gas, in expanding from its compressed condition,has a tremendous cooling effect and tends to become solidfupon release,it is necessary for a carbon dioxide nozzle to beconstricted withdiverging sides in order torelieve the expanding gas and preventclogging of the nozzle by the solidiilcation of the gas therein.However, this nozzle'may also be used for the other materials, such asfoam, water, carbon tetrachloride, or dew gas, which might be dischargedtherethrough, although with less ef ciency than with the constrictiontype of central nozzle shown in Fig. 2. The central nozzles shown inFig. 3 and Fig. 2 are interchangeable, so that the carbon dioxide typeof nozzle shown in Fig. 3 may be used with either modification when itis desired to discharge carbon dioxide through the central orilce.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of my invention for use in a ilre sprinklersystem or in permanent installations. Here, I have used the same typenozzle discharge portion and core as in Fig. 3, but have modified thecore mounting to provide for its closure except when fluid is passingthrough. The core assembly is mounted on a shaft 92 centered in thenozzle and threadedly attached to a spider 94 in the interior of thenozzle. Automatic closing of the core is provided by the followingconstruction: The core is mount- It is believed that the many advantagesof a hose nozzle constructed in accordance with the present inventionwill be readily understood, and

although preferred embodiments of the invention are as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that further modications and changesin the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A -nozzle provided with an outwardly diverg ingvdischarge portion andan axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within saiddischarge portion, said core extending from substantially the inner endof said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, theinner portion of said core and said discharge portion .cooperating toprovide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both asubstantially straight mean direction and a substantially constantveiective cross-sectional area Afor the maximum optimum operativeposition of said core, said channel having similar configurations ineach cross-sectional plane throughout the length thereof and being ofsuliicient length and so disposed as to aiect a laminar flow of thefluid discharged through said channel in a directed path substantiallycorresponding to a f maximum distance otuid cone projection for astantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyondsaid discharge portion, the inner portion of` said core and saiddischarge portion cooperating to provide an. annular channel havingthroughout the length thereof both a substantially straight meandirection and a substantiallyconstanteiective cross-sectional area forthe maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel havingsimilar coniigurations in each cross-sectional plane throughout thelength thereof and being of suflicient length and so disposed as toeffect a laminar flow of the uid discharged through said channel withinthe range of useful adjustments in a directed path substantiallycorresponding to a maximum distance of uid vcone projection for apredetermined elevation of field enclosure, and the outer portion ofsaid core extending beyond said dis-v charge portion for a distancecomparable to the length of the discharge portion to maintainl thelaminar ow beyond the point of discharge.

3. A nozzle provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion'andan axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within saiddischarge portion, saidv core extending beyond the innerand outerends ofsaid discharge portion, the inner portion of said core cooperating withthe said discharge portion to provide an annular channel havingthroughout the length thereof both a substantiallystraight meandirection and a substantially constant effective crosssectional area forthe maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel havingsimilar configurations in each cross-sectional` plane throughout thelength thereof andv being of suicient length and so disposed as toeffect a laminar flow of a iiuid discharged through said channel in thedirected path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance. offluidcone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure,and the outer portion of said core extending beyond said dischargeportion for a distance comparable to the length of the discharge portiontomaintain the laminar flow beyond the point of discharge., l

4. A nozzle provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion andan axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within saiddischarge portion, said core extending from sub'- stantially the innerend of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion,and

being mounted upon a tube in communication with a second fluid sourceand providedwith a discharge nozzle centrally disposed within said core,the'inner portion of said core and said discharge portion cooperating toprovide an annular channel. having throughout the length thereof` both asubstantially straight mean direction and a substantially constanteffective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operativeposition of said core, said channel having similar congurations in eachcross-sectional plane throughoutl the length thereofl and being ofsuflicient length and so disposed as to effect a laminar flow ofthe'fluid discharged through said channel in the directedpathsubstantially corresponding to a maximum distance of Afluid coneprojection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure,

and the outer portion 'of said core extending beyond said dischargeportion for a distance c'omparable to the -length of the dischargeportion to maintain the laminar flow beyond the point of discharge.

5. A nozzle having at one end two inlet openings tor communication withtwo vfluid sources, 75

and atthe other end being provided with an outwardly diverging dischargeportion and an axially adjustable core having a central openingextending therethroughv and constituting a further discharge opening,said core being coaxial with and disposed within said outwardlydiverging discharge portion and extending from substantially -the innerend of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion,the inner portion of said core and said discharge portion cooperating toprovide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a'substantially straight mean direction and a substantially constanteffective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operativeposition of said core, said channel having similar configurations inveach `cross-sectional plane throughout theA length thereof and being ofsuiilcient length and' so disposed as to eiect a laminar ow of the fluid.discharged through said channel within the range of useful adjustmentsin the directed -path substantially corresponding to a maximum distanceof cone projection forl a predetermined elevation of iield enclosure,the outer portion of saidcore extending beyond-7955., discharge portionfor a distance comparableffo the length of the discharge portion tomaintain"r4 now beyond the point of dischargev means 'for establishingcommunication? central opening with either of said fluid A 8. A nozzleprovided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion and a coreslidably mounted upon an axially disposed shaft, said core being coaxialwith and disposed in said discharge opening and extending fromsubstantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyondsaid discharge portion, the inner portion of said core and saiddischarge portion cooperating to provide an annular channel havingthroughout the length thereof both a substantially straight meandirection and a substantially constant effective cross-sectional areafor the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channelhaving similar congurations in each cross-sectional plane throughout thelength thereof and being of sufficient length and being so disposed asto eil'ect a laminar flow of the uid discharged through said channel ina directed path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance offluid cone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure,the outer portion of said core'extendin'g beyond said discharge portionfor adistance comparable to the length oi' the discharge portion tomaintain the laminar ilow 'beyond the point of discharge.'

and yieldable means for maintaining said core in closed position whenthe nozzle is not in use.'

Panamanian. u

